How to transform your kitchen for just $2,000: Renovation expert flips tired space in two days - and reveals her simple tips for how you can do it too
- TV expert Cherie Barber transformed a kitchen for $2,000 in just two days
- Cherie revealed how she did it with the help of 'liquid gold' paint in mint green
- The expert shared her tips for renovating on a budget - including windows
- Cherie said it's important to think about flooring, windows and skirting
Renovation expert Cherie Barber has revealed how she transformed a tired kitchen in just two days - for a total of $2,000.
The Australian TV expert got rid of the dated eighties cabinetry and lack of storage and instead replaced the look with a more modern mint green kitchen.
Writing on her blog Renovating for Profit, Cherie said one of the main things she did in the makeover was use 'liquid gold' - or paint - to transform the room.
Renovation expert Cherie Barber has revealed how she transformed a tired kitchen in just two days - for a total of $2,000 (pictured after)
The Australian TV expert got rid of the dated eighties cabinetry and lack of storage and instead replaced the look with a more modern mint green kitchen (pictured before)
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Cherie said one of the main things she did in the makeover was use 'liquid gold' - or paint - to transform the room (pictured before and after)
'This $2,000 makeover proves what can be achieved in a very small time frame (it took my team less than two days to complete), when you apply a good dose of ingenuity and the transforming power of paint,' she said.
So what exactly did Cherie do?
First of all, she said she had to tackle cleaning the greasy splashback.
'There was a paper calendar as the splashback and the lack of a proper extractor fan meant the kitchen had a serious build-up of grease that needed to be cleaned before any work could start,' Cherie said.
Then, she got rid of the bookcase that was being used as the owners' pantry - and the large chest freezer that was situated on the only free wall, visually blocking one whole side of their kitchen.
Speaking about her renovation tips for others who want to transform a space on a tight budget, Cherie (pictured) said windows and flooring are very important
Next, Cherie used White Knight's paint in 'Sussex' to paint the cupboard and drawer fronts.
She also added a feature wall in mint green, which she said is a great idea for anyone wanting to create a stylish 'centrepiece' on a budget.
'Simple chrome handles were added and I painted the kickboards white to complete the look,' Cherie said.
She explained that there are some items - like a splashback - that can make a huge visual difference to your kitchen.
'Bellessi's polymer panels can be installed directly over any vertical surface, so was a perfect solution for this small area, at a cost of $119,' she said.
'The new open-wire shelving above provided much-needed storage, supplemented by a pantry where a lot of the clutter can now be concealed.'
Cherie got rid of tired and dated eighties drawer fronts, and painted them and replaced the handles (pictured before)
She explained that there are some items - like a splashback - that can make a huge visual difference to your kitchen (pictured after)
Lastly, Cherie said she had to tackle the problem of where to put the double-door fridge and chest freezer.
Taking a look at the room, she decided to put them next to the exterior door beside the sink, which was a previous 'dead corner spot'.
'I would have loved to install a proper extractor fan – preferably a canopy rangehood – in this family-sized kitchen, but as the budget simply didn’t allow for it, I settled for a simple ceiling exhaust fan instead,' she said.
Lastly, she moved the chest freezer and double door fridge so that it wasn't getting in the way and instead filled dead space (pictured after)
'I would have loved to install a proper extractor fan – preferably a canopy rangehood – in this family-sized kitchen, but as the budget simply didn’t allow for it, I settled for a simple ceiling exhaust fan instead,' she said (pictured before)
Speaking about her renovation tips for others who want to transform a space on a tight budget, Cherie said 'liquid gold' should be your best friend.
Cherie (pictured) said halogen downlights are not expensive and can make a huge difference to the look of a room
'Internally a fresh coat of paint in a neutral but modern colour scheme always works wonders,' Cherie previously told FEMAIL.
'It hides all the scuff marks and tired colours that let a place down. Paint the woodwork in a white high-gloss to make the place sparkle.'
She also said replacing your floor will also go far in making your kitchen look brand new.
'If you're lucky enough to have real floorboards in good condition, have them sanded and polished in high gloss,' Cherie said.
'Otherwise consider low-cost laminate flooring. You can do a whole house for $2000 to $3000 if you shop around.'
The same goes for windows, where smart micro-venetians - which can be picked up at large hardware stores for around $50 each - will go a long way to transforming your home.
'Lighting makes a huge difference to a place and can be purchased very cheaply these days from places like Bunning and IKEA,' Cherie said.
'Halogen downlights, for example, can be supplied and installed for about $40 per light - and feature lights add that bit of wow factor.'
Finally, she said you should pay attention to the skirting for a chic and streamlined kitchen:
'Thin little skirtings and architraves look cheap, so replace them with a wide profile - the plainer the better, Cherie said.
She added that less decorative versions are easier to paint too.
